The Golden Section

The Golden Section (also known as Divine Proportions) is the idea that the ratio inside the frame, from the small part (A) to the large part (B), is the same as the ratio between B and the length of the line. Photographs taken with these proportions are very pleasing to the eye. The Golden Section is based on the Rule of Thirds; this is where the frame is divided horizontally and vertically into thirds. Laying focal points on these lines or where they cross improves the composition, balance and overall aesthetics of a photograph.

The Golden Section is used not only in photography but also in all art forms. The rule of thirds was derived by Ancient Greek Mathematician Euclid. In mathematics and the arts, two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio between the sum of those quantities and the larger one is the same as the ratio between the larger one and the smaller. After a little research into the use of the Golden Section in photography, I've found that there are a number of different versions of the design format; the golden spiral, golden triangle and golden rectangle.

Below are a few images I have taken to show the use of the Golden Section in photography.

01 Focal Point: Approximately in bottom right hand section

55mm, 1/15sec, f/10

02 Focal Point: Bottom Left travelling diagonally
towards upper right, perpendicular to crossing lines

300mm, 1/1250sec, f/5.6

03 Focal Point: Upper Left, Spiraling round to upper right

300mm, 1/2000sec, f/5.6

04 Focal Point: Approximately lower left section

51mm, 1/200sec, f/10

05 Focal Point: Entire frame, with a specific subject
lower left and another occupying the right hand side

45mm, 1/600sec, f/5

My five photographs show a few different examples of how the Golden Section is used in Photography. These examples are Golden Sections, Golden Triangles, Golden Spiral and the Rule of Thirds. Each method of dividing the frame makes a photograph more comfortable to look at.

I have found that when trying to take photographs specifically for this project I had quite a lot of trouble coming up with subjects to capture and do not feel I have provided very interesting results. As I progress through the course I will add some better examples that show the Golden Section more clearly.

Positioning Horizon

At first I struggled with this project as there isn't anywhere locally to the horizon. To avoid having to travel long distance in order to complete this project I once again used the Trans Pennine Trail to help me find a suitable scene to shoot. Although no true horizon can be seen along the section of the TPT I used, there is a visible horizon. A True Horizon is where the sky appears to meet solid ground, or sea. All I could find was a Visible Horizon; this is where the sky appears to meet a line of objects such as buildings or trees. My examples below contain a line of trees that create a visible horizon.

01. 55mm, 1/640sec, f/11________02. 55mm, 1/640sec, f/11


03. 55mm, 1/320sec, f/11________04. 55mm, 1/160sec, f/11

05. 55mm, 1/125sec, f/11

Admittedly the scene is not what we would call picturesque but it is adequate for the purpose of this project. I'm quite disappointed with these photographs as it was in fact a very nice day, by the time I found a suitable place to shoot, the sky had clouded over. I feel that the first image contains too much sky; with the second however, the balance appears more pleasing to the eye. The third image, having an equal amount of sky and ground doesn't feel very comfortable to look at. The fourth has slightly more ground than sky and looks quite pleasing. The last image has too little sky and appears cramped. The second and fourth photographs are my favourite but between the two I feel the fourth is the best. With there being a lot of detail in the foreground, my eyes feel comfortable skimming over this in clockwise circles, starting at the bottom. Had the second image contained a large subject that breaks the horizon, I feel this would have been my preferred shot.

I also decided to shoot the horizon in portrait to see if my preferred placement is reciprocated within this format.

01. 55mm, 1/800sec, f/11____02. 55mm, 1/800sec, f/11


03. 55mm, 1/400sec, f/11____04. 55mm, 1/125sec, f/11


05. 55mm, 1/125, f/11

Again I feel that the second and fourth shots are the most visually pleasing. The first has too much sky, the third has an equal amount of sky and ground yet appears unbalance and the last looks very cramped. The fourth again is my favourite because the majority of the detail is in the foreground. The second would again benefit from having a subject breaking the horizon; if the sky had not been so dull, it could have been a much nicer and more appealing photograph.

In conclusion, I feel it all depends on the main area of focus in a photograph to determine where the horizon should be positioned. If the foreground contains the most detail then a higher horizon is more pleasing. If there is an object/subject in the sky or breaking the horizon then a lower horizon would be more appealing. If the horizon it self is the main focal point then placing it around two thirds of the way up the photograph creates the most aesthetically comfortable shot.

Balance

Balance is a very important aspect in all art forms. Paintings, drawings, digitally created images and of course photographs can all be balanced in different ways. An image does not have to be symmetrical to be balanced. The distribution of colour, contrasts, texture and objects in a composition all have an affect on the overall balance. Balance can be defined in different categories, these include:

• Symmetrical Balance; Even balance along a centre line or "axis". Radial Symmetry, rotating around a centre point. Exact Symmetry, a mirror image or an exactly repeated design. Axial Symmetry, having two opposing repeats, one on each side of an axis.

• Asymmetrical Balance; Counterbalanced with contrasts such as dull and bright colors, dark with light values, geometric with organic shapes, active and inactive areas.

• Approximate Symmetry; Overall organization in which an even placement of color, forms, etc is displayed.

• Occult; Background is most dominant feature.

Image 1: The head of one of my Royal Pythons
This was one of the first photographs I took with my DSLR. I've decided to use it in this project because the shape of the subject and even the multiple shadows show perfect symmetry and therefore is perfectly balanced.

Image 2: An old ornament of a disappointed golfer
Whilst digging through my archive of photographs, I came across this asymmetrical, occult image. It contains no type of symmetry what-so-ever. I feel it's relatively well balanced. It feels very comfortable to look at. Even though the subject is placed on the right hand side of the image, the black background on the left seems to fill the empty space and counterbalance the weight of the subject. The background takes up the majority of the area within the frame and so I've classed this as occult.

Image 3: A section of the waterfall from my garden pond

My other example images for this project are all landscape format so felt I should include a portrait image. This photograph is an example of approximate symmetry. The shapes are symmetrical, however it is not perfect symmetry because the colours and contrasts vary on either side. This being said, it is a well balanced photograph.

Image 4: My Largest and Smallest lenses
This asymmetrical photograph is unbalanced due to the visual weight of the main subjects. The background on the right and the equivalent spacing between the subjects manages to balance the scale a little but not sufficiently in order to counter the weight of the larger lens on the left.

Image 5: An old building in Tatton Park's Tower Garden
This photograph is very asymmetrical although it is well balanced. The weight of the main subject on the left is countered by the bushes and tree slightly to the right of the centre and the wall and tree on the right hand side.

Image 6: A rolled up Guitar Strap
Another asymmetrical image here. The only visible part is the main subject itself as the background is pure white. With a border around the photograph the background is then noticeable. The weight and dark colours of the strap strongly contrast with the white background, this balances the image although it is still not perfect. Cropping the image to only show main subject would create perfect balance.

Whilst completing this project I found it very hard to determine why certain photographs appear well balanced. It is very easy to see balance in a symmetrical photograph than an asymmetrical photograph. Looking back at Image 4 I have decided that my scales are a misrepresentation of its balance. I feel that the equidistant spaces between the lenses and the edges of the frame give the image a much better balance than I originally thought. I have learnt that there's a lot more to balance than symmetry of shapes and will keep an eye out for the different aspects of balance when reviewing photographs in the future.

Exploring the Trans Pennine Trail

I first discovered the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) whilst chatting with a friend about interesting, relaxing and relatively easy places to cycle with minimal traffic. The TPT crosses the country from coast to coast (Southport to Hornsea) and has a few sections that lead off towards York, Leeds, Sheffield and Chesterfield. A simplified version of the map can be found here. The Trail is accessible to anyone, be they walking, cycling, on Horse back or in a wheelchair. So far, I have cycled to Warrington and back with my camera, each time looking out for any interesting scenes that catch my eye. As I live in Sale, this is around a 30 mile cycle and can take up to four hours. At some point I'd like to cycle the entirety of the TPT although this will take between four and five days to complete.

There are plenty of opportunities to take photos along the trail. Between Sale and Altrincham it runs along an old railway line, the rails have been removed and the suface has been compacted to make it more comfortable and easier for people to travel along it. On either side there are wide, open fields that contain a large variety of wildlife.

Below is an example of one of the scenes visable along part of the TPT.

Recording a Sequence

For this project, the course material suggests finding a situation that involves people such as a parade or market place. I could not seem to find what I felt was a suitable location; I chose a public place but instead of photographing the people, I recorded my movements around the area and the interesting subjects within it. Whilst in Sheffield I found a picturesque square called Barker's Pool that contained a variety of objects and structures that caught my eye. Barker's Pool is a public plaza and street in the centre of the Sheffield. The focus of Barker's Pool is a ninety foot tall First World War memorial. It is also home to the City Hall and two glass-cased fountains.

I began By panning round and snapping objects that caught my eye.


Took some wider shots to show the layout of the square.


I decided the WWI memorial would be a good subject.


Experimenting with portrait format and continuing to show the square's layout.


Closing in on the memorial.


Even closer, capturing the detail.


Changing composition to capture different and more interesting shots.


I spotted the fountain in the background and decided to have a closer look.


Decided upon the main subject.


Started to change composition to capture best image possible.


Decided the subject does not suit a vertical frame.


Experimenting with shutter speed to capture water in different ways.


Hard to see a difference in such small pictures.
When changing shutter speed I could either freeze the water droplets or make them very blurred.


I decided to shoot from an angle to create a more interesting composition.

24mm, 1/250sec, f/10

For my final image I set the shutter speed to capture visible droplets of water around the outside but to keep the faster water in the middle blurred. I used a short focal length as I felt capturing a wide angle shot would create a more interesting result.

Overall I'm quite pleased with my final image. A lot of the photographs are very poorly composed but after all they are but quick snapshots to document my progress towards the final shot.